Kempner striving for district success after 3-0 start

Jack Marrion

Published 11:09 am, Friday, September 16, 2016

Photo: Kirk Sides

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Kempner, pictured smothering a Clear Falls ball carrier in 2015, is 3-0 for the second consecutive season after victories against Mayde Creek, Nimitz and Hastings. The Cougars open District 20-6A play against Ridge Point. less

Kempner, pictured smothering a Clear Falls ball carrier in 2015, is 3-0 for the second consecutive season after victories against Mayde Creek, Nimitz and Hastings. The Cougars open District 20-6A play against ... more

Photo: Kirk Sides

Kempner striving for district success after 3-0 start

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After three entertaining weeks of play, Fort Bend ISD is down to four remaining undefeated football teams.

For the second consecutive season, Kempner is one of them.

The Cougars surged ahead of Hastings in the second half of its non-district finale Sept. 8, claiming a 49-35 victory to improve to 3-0. Kempner previously defeated Mayde Creek 38-31 and Nimitz 37-28, and enters the District 20-6A schedule as the highest-scoring team in FBISD with 124 points.

Kempner was in a similar position last year, including an overtime victory against Clements in the district opener. But the Cougars won once more for a 4-6 finish.

With the majority of the starting lineup back this year, Kempner aims to maintain its success, even with a stiff opening test against fellow unbeaten Ridge Point.

“This is a pretty special group with the seniors,” Kempner coach Darrin Andrus said. “Billy Reagins has always been a leader for us. He’s done a good job. Going forward, we have a tough district. Ridge Point is a big test for us after going to the state semifinals. We want our kids to respond to the first test in front of them.”

Kempner looks to continue progress as a program from a 1-9 season in 2013. Last year the Cougars earned their greatest total of victories since a 5-6 showing in 2010, the last of four consecutive years in the playoffs.

A key factor is Kempner’s execution in its triple-option offense, which Andrus said was part of the playbook even a decade ago but featured during the last three years. An undersized but effective offensive line leads the way up front, helping Kempner average 376 rushing yards per game including a high of 472 against Mayde Creek.

“We replaced a couple guys at the tackle positions,” Andrus said. “They’re starting to mesh together really well. They’re not big guys. Our right guard is about 290, but the rest of them just get after it. They’re coming together.”

Reagins has almost 600 yards already, along with eight touchdowns. Quarterback Alec Carr has added almost 200 yards and three touchdowns, while Joel Adams’ 77 yards and two scores were a factor against Hastings.

The Cougars also needed Carr’s arm against Hastings as Kempner rallied from a 21-6 deficit. He passed for a season-high 127 yards on 10 attempts, the longest a 44-yard touchdown to Jacob Landry, often the Cougars’ top target on rare run fakes.

“If we throw eight or more times, I’m usually asking our offensive coordinator ‘what’s going on?’” Andrus said. “It’s good to see our guys execute though. Usually when we complete a pass it’s for big yards. But I’ve been really impressed with our rushing.”

Andrus said the Kempner defense is developing in a new system with coordinator Ben Duhon. While opponents have averaged 31.3 points through three games, the defense came up with a clutch goal-line stand to defeat Mayde Creek and forced three turnovers to aid the rally against Hastings.